On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Highland Community Hospital will be recognized for their completion of the Safe Sleep Campaign, which promotes the education and practice of safe sleep environments for infants.
Representatives from the Mississippi SIDS and Infant Safety Alliance and the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Committee will be in attendance to award a plaque to the hospital.
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s website, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the leading cause of death in babies between 1-12 months old. While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, health professionals have identified a number of factors that can put a child at increased risk.
Infants who sleep on their stomachs or sleep on soft bedding are more at risk, according to the NICHD website. The website also states sleeping with blankets, exposure to cigarette smoke and overheating are all factors that can elevate an infant’s risk for SIDS.
The Safe Sleep Hospital Program is designed to make parents aware of these risks and educate new families on safe sleep practices with the use of brochures, videos and instructional demonstrations.
Highland Community Hospital completed all requirements of the program in October and will be acknowledged for their commitment on Wednesday.
Highland has collaborated with the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi SIDS and Infant Safety Alliance, the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Committee and the March of Dimes throughout their participation in the safe sleep campaign.
Statistics support the need for a safe sleep program. The NICHD website states that every year, more than 4,000 infants die from SIDS or other sleep-related incidents such as accidental suffocation, and Mississippi has the highest infant mortality rate in the United States.
Highland Community Hospital Administrator Mark Stockstill stated that the award is another example of Highland’s commitment to safe, quality healthcare in Pearl River County.